Johann Zarco is back in competition after suffering a serious knee injury in a crash at the Catalan Grand Prix in May, but his recovery is still ongoing. The 36-year-old Frenchman, a two-time Grand Prix winner, missed six races and ultimately avoided the urgent operation that had initially been considered likely.

He returned at Aragon and has scored points in two of his last three races. Ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix, Zarco said the leg is coping reasonably well with the demands of riding, while stressing that the knee does not have the stability of a normal joint because of the condition of its ligaments.

His progress is also visible away from the track. Zarco has been hiking in the mountains and can now run for a short distance, something that was previously beyond him. At Misano and Austria, he had already noticed that bending the knee was becoming easier; on a motorcycle, that improvement alone was enough to make him feel more comfortable.

A long-term operation and a revised training plan

Zarco says his meniscus is not sitting in the correct position and that this creates a risk of developing arthrosis. He therefore regards surgery as necessary in the long term, but not during the next winter break. His plan is to have the operation after his racing career ends, rather than treating it as an immediate requirement while he is still competing.

The injury has also reshaped his training. Zarco has stopped playing padel and is putting more emphasis on gym work, while using cycling for cardio. Although he was not previously a fan of gym sessions, he says he now enjoys them more and can see how they help him adapt his body as he continues his return to MotoGP racing.